Who deserves Hell?

[brian757]

I am not certain it does not indicate in God's Word that this still happens. I believe it is an one time choice. That was a great question to ask.

 

[Penumbra]

**Staff Post**

This thread has been cleaned up a bit, so if you find posts missing, that's why.

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8. Proselytizing
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[BlackBear94]

I honestly think that one of two possible scenerios await those evildoer's on the other side.
1) there's no hell. The fear of it was enough to serve it's deterring purpose. It's not like someone's gonna come back and ruin the secret. Or
2) there is a hell but it's not full of pain and torturing. More like a lesser heaven where the good can go visit the sinners.
I come to this conclusion because i can't help but think of a lovely woman who dies at a young age, she's so fond of her only child and want's the world for him. But after the woman dies the child goes down a dark path and becomes a serial killer. Sure fine he deserves hell but what about the mother? Should a woman who did everything right deserve to never see her child again?

 

[BlackBear94]

God needs the bad to do bad. It's part of the show.

 

[tumbleweed41]

I honestly think that one of two possible scenerios await those evildoer's on the other side.
1) there's no hell. The fear of it was enough to serve it's deterring purpose. It's not like someone's gonna come back and ruin the secret. Or
2) there is a hell but it's not full of pain and torturing. More like a lesser heaven where the good can go visit the sinners.
I come to this conclusion because i can't help but think of a lovely woman who dies at a young age, she's so fond of her only child and want's the world for him. But after the woman dies the child goes down a dark path and becomes a serial killer. Sure fine he deserves hell but what about the mother? Should a woman who did everything right deserve to never see her child again?

So, in your theology, only the "evildoers" go to hell. (whatever it is).
How do you define an evildoer? And back to the OP, would I be considered an evildoer?

 

[no-body]

If God is truly all knowing and omnipotent then no one deserves hell, even the most undeserving despicable sinner would be worthy of redemption, no matter how long it took to learn. It would be like if we judged animals for their behavior and tried to make them live by our standards.

I like to think hell is a state of mind. Whether it is a state that continues after death is not for me or anyone to say. I like this quote from Jacob's ladder (supposedly from Meister Echkart but not really) "The only thing that burns in hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life: your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away, but they're not punishing you, they're freeing your soul. If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. If you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels freeing you from the earth."

I believe hell is like that.

 

[BlackBear94]

So, in your theology, only the "evildoers" go to hell. (whatever it is).
How do you define an evildoer? And back to the OP, would I be considered an evildoer?

Well I always thought you could never really sum up a person until you were at their funeral. When you die, it doesn't matter how many cars you owned, how many A's you got in school or how many frubals you have on RF *cough**cough*
All that you leave behind is the impact you've left on people's lives (corny i know) but still, if a lot people were better off because you were here then you should have no problem getting backstage passes to the pearly gates. inversely if a lot of people are worse off, well then you're officially a edit. and from there i don't know where you'll go.

 

[tumbleweed41]

Well I always thought you could never really sum up a person until you were at their funeral. When you die, it doesn't matter how many cars you owned, how many A's you got in school or how many frubals you have on RF *cough**cough*
All that you leave behind is the impact you've left on people's lives (corny i know) but still, if a lot people were better off because you were here then you should have no problem getting backstage passes to the pearly gates. inversely if a lot of people are worse off, well then you're officially a prick. and from there i don't know where you'll go.

So, a scale measured on those you influence.

 

[BlackBear94]

Well yeah, you always have a choice in life. i understand that some are more difficult than others (obviously) but you still make the decisions in the end. If you knowingly and repeatedly choose to hurt other people, (severe enough to be considered physical or emotional assault) i really couldn't give two ***** how sincere you smile or how many ladies you help across the street you can't call yourself a good person

 

[tumbleweed41]

Well yeah, you always have a choice in life. i understand that some are more difficult than others (obviously) but you still make the decisions in the end. If you knowingly and repeatedly choose to hurt other people, (severe enough to be considered physical or emotional assault) i really couldn't give two ***** how sincere you smile or how many ladies you help across the street you can't call yourself a good person

Is this a motivation for doing good?

 

[BlackBear94]

I don't care if you do it for the self satisfaction or as an excuse to have sex with hot strangers, if you do something like save a kid's life, you're a hero, period.

 

[tumbleweed41]

I don't care if you do it for the self satisfaction or as an excuse to have sex with hot strangers, if you do something like save a kid's life, you're a hero, period.

Let me rephrase.

Is this scale of positive influence something you use yourself as motivation to do good?

 

[Tbone]

This question is directed at those who either believe in a literal hell, or the eternal death of the soul, as punishment for those who do not "follow the rules" of your particular religion, or for those who reject the basic tenets of your religion.

As an example, I will use myself.

Raised in a Conservative Baptist church in Oregon.
Accepted Jesus Christ as my savior at the age of 11.
Active in a Southern Baptist Church as youth leader and Deacon.
Extensive study of the Holy Bible.
Firm believer in Protestant theology until the age of 33.
Rejected all forms of revealed revelation and salvation/hell concepts.
Deist since the age of 35.

Now, I consider myself a good person. I am honest in my dealings with others. I base my morality on humanistic principles.

Based on the above, am I deserving of some sort of eternal punishment?
And if so, why? If not, why not?

Eternal life is a gift from God. He does not give eternal life to the incorrigible.
They receive eternal death.
You know really, really dead, no thought, absolutly nothing.
Just like they were before they were born.
We all remember what it was like before we were born, right?

 

[BlackBear94]

Let me rephrase.

Is this scale of positive influence something you use yourself as motivation to do good?

This is something Most people use. you really don't want me as your anchor point. not to sound like a 14 year old "rebel" but i'm not like normal people. most of the time when i do something good, no one ever knows about it. I can't stand praise.

 

[james2ko]

This question is directed at those who either believe in a literal hell, or the eternal death of the soul, as punishment for those who do not "follow the rules" of your particular religion, or for those who reject the basic tenets of your religion.

As an example, I will use myself.

Raised in a Conservative Baptist church in Oregon.
Accepted Jesus Christ as my savior at the age of 11.
Active in a Southern Baptist Church as youth leader and Deacon.
Extensive study of the Holy Bible.
Firm believer in Protestant theology until the age of 33.
Rejected all forms of revealed revelation and salvation/hell concepts.
Deist since the age of 35.

Based on the above, am I deserving of some sort of eternal punishment?
And if so, why? If not, why not?

Don't think it would be fair for God to sentence anyone whom He is allowing Satan to deceive (2 Co 4:3-4). I believe you are safe for now.

Now, I consider myself a good person. I am honest in my dealings with others. I base my morality on humanistic principles

This will make it easier for you to accept Christ way of life, when your opportunity comes at the end of the millenium.

 

[InChrist]

But, if one does not trust Jesus Christ as their Savior, then the gift of salvation and eternal life (which has already been given from God to humanity John 3:16) is removed and one is doomed to hell/eternal death. Correct?

The condition has not been met for the "free" gift. And instead, one is punished.

The gift is available for anyone to receive. When a person trusts Christ or receives Christ as their Savior the gift is also received. A gift of any sort has no practical application in a person's life until it is received and used. If you get a check in the mail and leave it sitting around, ignore it, or carelessly lose it, it will never benefit you. But if you deposit it in the bank the funds will be applied to your account. The righteousness of Christ is applied to one's life when He is received as Savior.

No one is not punished for not meeting conditions. One is separated from God and the blessings of eternal life because they are bankrupt in sin (debt) and cannot pay the penalty.

 

[Me Myself]

The gift is available for anyone to receive. When a person trusts Christ or receives Christ as their Savior the gift is also received. A gift of any sort has no practical application in a person's life until it is received and used. If you get a check in the mail and leave it sitting around, ignore it, or carelessly lose it, it will never benefit you. But if you deposit it in the bank the funds will be applied to your account. The righteousness of Christ is applied to one's life when He is received as Savior.

No one is not punished for not meeting conditions. One is separated from God and the blessings of eternal life because they are bankrupt in sin (debt) and cannot pay the penalty.

So, let´s say hipothetically, that the real savior was not Jesus (hypothetically) , but Krishna and that (hypothetically ) not choosing him meant eternal hell.

Would you still diserve it when you die because you didn´t choose Krishna instead of Jesus? Would it be fair to throw you in the flames for not knowing that the true religion was "hare Krishnaism" and not Christianity?